WPIAL rules basketball standouts Cali Konek, Thomas Melonja eligible at new schools

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 23, 2018 | 8:12 PM

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The WPIAL cleared two basketball stars to play their senior seasons at their new schools.

Franklin Regional senior Cali Konek and Peters Township senior Thomas Melonja were ruled eligible after separate hearings Thursday in Green Tree, WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said.

Konek transferred from Southmoreland. Melonja returned home from Lincoln Park.

Konek, a 5-foot-7 guard, is a Division I recruit committed to UNC-Charlotte. She earned attention as a freshman when she averaged 45.4 points and scored more than 1,000 at Imani Christian. She transferred to Riverdale Baptist in Marlboro, Md. for her sophomore year before returning to Pennsylvania last school year.

“The question from the board’s perspective was, this was going to be the fourth school in four years for the young lady,” O’Malley said. “… It was the board’s decision that they should be brought in to explain, and they did that, so the board granted eligibility.”

A concern with Melonja’s transfer was timing, O’Malley said. Melonja, a 6-foot-6 forward with an NJIT offer, switched schools just before the Aug. 6 deadline imposed by the PIAA. After that date, transfers are ineligible for the postseason.

Lincoln Park’s administration didn’t contest the transfer, but “they couldn’t certify without significant doubt that it was or wasn’t for athletic intent,” O’Malley said. “They didn’t have anything specifically, but the bottom line was they didn’t know why this (transfer) happened.”

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Lincoln Park, Peters Township, Southmoreland